USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Mason > History of the town of Mason, N. H. from the first grant in 1749, to the year 1858 > Part 27
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Now yor Petition' thinks ye Judgment is erroneous, first, because ye fact if as wicked as m' hooker supposd Comes under ye head of disturbing God's worship, & not ye statute of prophaning ye Sabbath : secondly, because no member of a Lawfull Church Society can be punished for worshipping God in ye modes & formes, agreed upon, & fixed by ye Society. thirdly because tis errors, when ye Civill author- ity sodenly Interpose between partyes yt differ about modes of wor- ship, & force one party to Submitt to ye other, till all milder methods have bin used to Convince miens Consciences. fourthly because tis error to make a Gent of yor petition" carracter a Scandalous offender upon Record, for nothing but a present mistake at most, when no morral evil is Intended.
Wherefore yor poor petioner prayes you to set aside ye sd Jud, or by what means yo" hon's please, to save your poor petition" from ye Imputation of ye heinous Crime Laid to him, & yor poor petion" as in duty &c shall ever pray. Joseph Hauly.
In order that the play upon words in the latin terms used in the petition may be understood, it is well to add that bella is wars; bellum, war; pax, peace.
NOTE TO PAGE 124.
In anticipation that a large armed force might be required to put down the "Whisky rebellion" in Pennsylvania, Con- gress, on the 9th of May, 1794, passed an act authorizing the president to make requisitions on the executives of the sev- eral states for troops. The whole number provided for was 80,000. Of these, the number required from New Hampshire was 3,544. It was under this act that the volunteers ten- dered their services, and were paid the bounty by the town. This insurrection, which, at one time, assumed a threatening and formidable attitude, was quelled by the forces under Gen. Lee, without bloodshed, and the troops from New Hampshire were not called for.
41
318
APPENDIX.
NOTE TO PAGE S2.
When the government of Massachusetts was established under the first charter, none could vote at any elections of magistrates or officers, except those who had been admitted to take, and who had taken, the freeman's oath. For some years, the elections were all held at one place, generally at Boston. All the freemen were required to attend personally at the stated time and place. While they all thus lived in the vicinity of Boston, no great inconvenience to the voters or danger to the community was experienced by the compli- ance with this rule. But as the settlements were extended to considerable distances from Boston, and as the people began to be under alarm of sudden attack by their Indian enemies, it was found necessary to provide for some modifica- tion of the law, which was done by the two acts of the gen- cral court, copies of which are here given :
1635-6. March 3. Further, it is ordered, that the Gen'all Court to be holden in May next, for elec'on of magistrates, &c., shall be holden at Boston, that the townes of Ipswich, Neweberry, Salem, Saugus, Waymouthe and Hingham, shall have libertie to stay soe many of their ffreemen att home, for the safty of their towne, as they judge needeful, and that the said ffreemen that are appoyneted by the towne to stay att home shall have liberty for this court to send their voices by pr'x'y.
1736-7. March 9. This court takeing into serious consideration the greate danger and damage that may accrue to the state by all the ffreemen's leaveing their plantations, to come to the place of elec- tions, have therefore ordered it, that it shal bee free and lawfull for all freemen to send their votes for elections by proxie, the next Gen- e'all courte in May, and so for hereafter, whh shall bee done in this manner : 'The deputies whh shall bee chosen shall cause the freemen of their townes to bee assembled, and then to take such freemen's votes as please to send by pr'xie for every magistrate, and seale them vp, severally subscribing the magistrate's name on the back side, and soe to bring them to the court sealed, with an open roule of the names of the ffreemen that so send by pr'xie.
Some dim tradition of these laws having come down to their times, probably furnished the foundation of the claim of Obadiah Parker, Joseph Ball and others, to send their votes for representative, to the town meeting by Joseph Merriam,
$19
APPENDIX.
NOTE TO PAGE 247.
No national festival was ever kept with more heart-felt pleasure than the old-fashioned New England thanksgiving. Our fathers regarded the christmas festival as a remnant of popery, or, at least, as one of the superstitious observances of the church of England, from whose tyranny they had fled into the wilderness, and they at once instituted the thanks- giving festival in its place. For them, it had all the charms of the old christmas festival, without any of its objectionable features. It was first introduced in 1633, by the following order of the general court :
1633. Sept. 3. In regard of the many and extraordinary mercys wych the Lord hath beene pleased to vouchsafe, of late, to this planta- con, viz : a plentiful harvest, ships safely arrived with p'sons of spe- tiall use and quality, &c., it is ordered, that Wednesday, the 16th day of this present month shall be kept as a day of publique thanks- giveing through the sev'ral plantacons.
The custom finally prevailed for the governor, with advice of council, to appoint the day, and give notice thereof by special proclamation. For many years the observance of this festival was peculiar to New England, but it is now becoming the practice in most of the states, for the governor to appoint a day of thanksgiving, to be observed at the close of the har- vest. The time generally selected is some one of the Thurs- days in the two last weeks of November or the first week of December. Not content with establishing thanksgiving, in opposition to christmas, our fathers went further, and actually prohibited the keeping of christmas, under a penalty, by the following law :
For preventing disorders arising in several places within this jurisdic- tion, by reason of some still observing such festivals as were super- stitiously kept in other countries, to the great dishonor of God, and offence of others :
It is therefore Ordered by this Court and the authority thereof, That whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas, or the like, either by forbearing labor, feasting, or any other way upon any such account as aforesaid, every such person so offending shall pay for every such offence five shillings, as a fine to the Country.
320
APPENDIX.
In a report upon the revision of the laws in 1681, this, among others, having been objected to by the attorney gen- eral and solicitor general in England, it was disposed of as follows: " Sth. The law against keeping Christmas to be left out."
DEPTII OF SNOWS.
No record has been kept, in Mason, of the state of the weather, depth of snows, &c., for any considerable length of time. The following table, kept by Mr. Luther Nutting, in the northerly part of the town, of the depth of snow each year, commencing in the fall of 1843 and ending in the spring of 1857, he having carefully measured and recorded every fall of snow, may be relied on as accurate :
TABLE OF DEPTH OF SNOWS, IN MASON, FROM 1943 TO 1857, INCLUSIVE.
ft. in.
ft. in.
ft. in. 10 11
ft. in.
1843-44,
13
6
1847-48,
7
2
1851-52,
1855-56, 7 3
1844-45,
6
7
1848-49,
5
8
1852-53,
7 00
1856-57,
7
9
1845-46,
5 11
1849-50,
8
8
1853-54,
6
3
1846-47,
6
9
1850-51,
7
9
1854-55,
9 10
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.
Page 277, after Dr. Moses Dakin, add M. D. Bowdoin College, 1828.
Page 285, Dr Joseph Gray was born in Providence, R. I., in 1751, took an active part in the war of the revolution, studied physic with Dr. Mann, of Rhode Island, attended the medical lectures of Dr. Rush, was one of the earli- est regularly educated physicians in the county of Hillsborough. He com- menced practice in Nottinghamwest. He married Lucy, daughter of Dea. Sam'l Bancroft, of Reading, Mass. In 1790, he removed to Mason, and resided there till 1809, in which year he removed with his family from the town.
Dr. Henry Gray, was born in Nottinghamwest, in 1793, removed from Mason to Londonderry, Vt., where he now resides.
John Gray, son of Dr. Joseph Gray, studied law, was established in pros- perous business in Kentucky, but died at an early age. Two of his sons are lawyers in Kentucky.
Page 161, line 19, for 1758, March 30, read 1759, April 11, and for Betty Hazen, r. Thankful Harrington, of Pepperell.
Page 178, 1. 6 and 7, for wife, r. sister, and for 75, r. 79 years.
Page 179, 1. 29, for Elizabeth, r. Deborah.
Page 210, after 1. 18, insert, their children were; 1. 26, for June 3, r. June 17; 1. 35, for 1755, r. January 7, 1756.
Page 211, 1. 10, after Lucy, insert, born March 6, 1762, and in the same line, for 1819, r. 1849 ; 1. 11, before Stickney, insert Joseph.
Page 215, 1. 8, for 1778, r. 1788.
Page 220, 1. 21, for Edward, r. Edmund.
Page 250, 1. 32, for Andrew Reed, r. Andrew H. Reed.
Page 260 and 261, for Olmstead, r. Olmsted.
INDEX.
ACQUEDAHCAN, 14. Alarm list, 79. Allen, sale to, 18, not valid, 19, heirs of threaten suits, 24. Allen's advertisement, 36. Ammunition, 90. Ancient customs, of marketing, 247. Arms purchased, 90.
Bachelder, Dr. John, 266. Baptist church, 253, in village, 258. Barber, Dr. William, 123, 266, school- master, 134. Barrett, Capt. Joseph, 266. Battle of Halfway Brook, 313. Beef for the army, 101. Bill of rights, 95, 104. Biographical sketches, 266-312. Births, 236. Blodgett, John, 141. Blood, Eben, James, John, Joseph, William, 198, 199. Blood, Rev. Charles E., 267. Blood, Rev. Lorenzo W., 267. Boad, 26. Bounty to volunteers, 124, 134. Bounty, to soldiers, 89, 141, for killing a crow, 135. Boynton common school fund, 146. Boynton, Hon. John, 146. Bridges, 59, 63, 86, 106. Brookline, 5, 27. Bruce, Rev. John, 108. Burnap, Rev. Jacob, 70.
Cabot, Sebastian, 6. Canada, 38. Certificates of soldiers sent to Exeter, 100. Changing sides, 137. Chamberlain, Loammi, 268. Chamberlain, James H., 271. Champney, Ebenezer, 48. Character and habits, 78. Chickering, Abner, 273. Chickering, Jonas, 274.
Christian church, 262. Christmas, law prohibiting, 319. Churches, 248-265.
Clergy, character and influence of 69. Collector fined, 123. Colony of New Hampshire, 83.
Committee of correspondence, 74, 77. Committee of inspection, 82, 86, 87. Committee of safety, 94.
Committee on exorbitance of trade, 87. Completing the continental army, 101. Congregational church, 248, in village, 260.
Congregational singing, 316. Constitution, vote on accepting, 104. Convention, at Exeter, 1774, 73, 79, at Amherst, 74, to form constitution, 94, on currency at Portsmouth, 95, at Concord, 101. Cotton picking, by hand, 243. Cotton, Rev. John, 273.
Covenant of non-importation, 75.
Covenant, signers adopt resolves, 77. Cragin, Dea. Simeon, 272. Cranfield, Governor, 16. Cromwell, Lord General, 273.
Cut nails, machine for making, 243.
Dakin, Amos, goes to Exeter, 73. Dakin, Dea. Amos, 274. Dakin, Dea. Timothy, 275. Dakin, Samuel, Esq , 276. Dakin, Dr. Moses, 276.
Davis, Joshua, goes to Exeter, 100.
Deaths, record of, from 1758 to 1858, 176-193.
Delinquent proprietors, 39, 40, 42, 43. Dissent of Eliot and Allen, 103. Doings detrimental to the cause, 91. Douglass' map, 26. Dram Cup Hill, 27. Dunstable, 21, 26, 27. Dunster, Jason, 211.
Early settlers, list of, 213-221. Earthen ware, 245.
322
INDEX.
Ecclesiastical affairs, 218-265. Elerum list, 79, at Ticonderoga, 94. Elias Eliot, 197. Eliot, Rev. William, 279. Elliot, George, 276. Elliot, Israel, 284.
Elliot, Rev. Jesse, 285.
Elliot, Rev. Joseph, 284. Elm trees, 290. Endecott, John, 15. Era of good feeling, 141.
Family registers, 195-211. Fast. Capt. Tarbell paid for a, 66. Fay, Jonas, Jr., 285. Federal currency, 134. Fish, Asa, at vendue, 94.
Flagg, Josiah, 211. Flouring mills, 245, 271. Forfeiture of rights, 39, 40. French, Capt. Joseph, 31.
Gilbert, Sir Humphrey, G. Gould, Nehemiah, 44, 45, 314.
Government, new established, 80, 95. Grantees and settlers, 35.
Graveyards, 44, 64, 65, 71, 91, 101, 132, 133.
Graves, reasonably needed, to be dug, 88. Gray, Dr. Joseph, 285, 320. Gray, Dr. Henry, 285, 320. Gray, John, 320.
Habits and custom of worshipers, 72, 130, 132.
IIall, Dea. Nathan, 285. Harrington, Rev. Mr., 251. Hawley, Joseph's petition, 316. Hemenway, Rev. Phinchas, 314.
Herrick, Joseph, 30.
Highways, 34, 36, 40, 44, 47, 49, 50, 52, 59, 60, 77.
Hill, Rev. Ebenezer, 286, donation of town to, 133, addition to salary of, 137.
Hill, Rev. Joseph B. 286. Hill, Rev. Timothy, 287. Ilillsborough county, 5. Ilolden, Amos, John, 198. Holland. 6. Hollis, 27.
Holt's journal in the French war of 1758, 313. Horse stables, 71. Hosmer family, 210. Hoyt, Dr. Otis, 287.
IInnt, Rev. Nehemiah, 287. IIntchinson, Thomas, 20, 22.
Idle persons, see paupers. Improvements, report upon, 41. Ince, Jonathan, 14, 15. Incorporation. 51, charges of, 63.
Justices of the peace, 232. Johnson, Dr. Willis, 288.
Kemp, Ebenezer, Samuel, 199. Kendall, Lieut., builds meeting house, 111, 113.
Kidder, Isaiah, 244. Kimball, Isaac, 244. Kimball, Rev. True, called, 103.
Land tax, 135. Law book, Parker paid for sending for, 71. Lawrence, Enosh, 31.
Lawrence family, 196, 197,
Lawrence, Dr. Enosh, 289.
Lawrence, John, 30.
Leader, Rich'd, resists Mason's title, 13. Letters missive, 69.
Leverett, Governor, 15. List of early settlers, 213. Littleton, 25. Locke, Mrs. Betty, pound of tea for, 134. Lottery, continental, 87.
Mann, Benjamin, Esq., 289. Manufactures, 241. Marianna, 7. Marshall, Dr. Thomas II., 290. Marketing, 247.
Marriages, records of, in Groton, Pep- perell and Townsend, 161, in Mason, 162-174, 212-2126, remarks on mar- riage laws and customs, 2126-212d. Mason, towu of, situation, 5, grant, 28, plan and draft of lots, 32, 34, 200 acres added on north, 38, charter, 56, name 57.
Mason, Capt. John, birth and early life, 5, 6, grants to and settlements by, 7, objects and results, 8, 10, 11, 12, death and will, 9.
Mason Hall, 7. Mason, Mrs. Anne, executrix, aban- dons the estate, 10. Mason, Joseph, her agent brings suits, 13.
323
INDEX.
Mason, Robert Tufton, 13, attorney general reports in his favor, 15, he brings new suits, 16, inortgages to Cranfield, 16, sells the million acre tract, 17. dies, 18.
Mason, John and Robert, sell to Allen, 18, sale not valid, 19
Mason, Robert Tufton, dies, 19.
Mason, Robert Tufton, his son. comes of age, 19, offers to sell to the Prov- ince, 20, 22, sells to Masonian pro- prictors, 23.
Masonian proprietors, who, 23, quiet titles, 23.
Mason, proprietors of, first meeting, and choice of officers. 31, 35.
Mason, Rev. Alfred L., 292.
Massachusetts, 7, takes jurisdiction, 13, surveys north line, 14, 15, juris- diction set aside, 16, Province line, settled, 19, 20.
Merrimack river, 7.
Meeting houses, 39, 40, 45, 47, 50, 53. 59, 63, 64, 67, going to meeting, 72, seated, 88, six acres around it re- served, 101, boards blown off, 105, vote to build. 107, site of, 107-110, raising of, 111-113, plan of pews, 113, sale of pews, 113, 114, old house sold, 119, wharfing round, 120, Bap- tists refuse to pay taxes for building, 121, dedicated, 124, view and de- scription of, 125, plan of pews in, 126, 127, tax of Eliot and Wheeler abated, 134, Baptist society claim rights in, 139, 142, 143, use of voted to Congregational society, 143, com- mittee to inquire about rights in, 144, new built, 132, vote to sell, 145. Merriam, Joseph, 291, first representa- tive, 123. Merriam, Samuel, Esq., 292.
Mile Slip, 27.
Miles, Rev. Noah, buries the victims of small pox, 139. .
Milford, 5.
Military affairs, 79, 86, 87, 124, rations for muster, 137.
Million acre purchase, 17.
Mills and mill lots, 35, 36, 37, 42, 45, 47, Eliot's accepted, 50.
Ministers and preaching, 42, 44, 46, 47, call to Champney, 48, call to Parker, 49,-53, 63, 64, call to Searle, 65, 66, ordination of Searle, 67, 70, 71, 73, money raised for, 102, Kimball called, 102, 103, 106, 109, 110, 111, Hill called, 113, accepts, 115, ordi- nation of, 117, 118, 133, 134, salary not voted, 144, Mr. Hill resigns, 144,
J. Searle, controversy with, 151-160, power of towns to settle, 69.
Ministry land sold, 77.
Mortality, statistics of, 233-235.
Nashobah, 25.
Naumkeag. 7.
Newcastle, Duke of, 27.
Newell, Ezra, 243.
Newfoundland, 7.
New Ipswich, 5.
New Ipsshed, 64.
Noon houses, 72.
Northwest corner ratified, 104.
Olmsted, Rev. William, 307. Otis, Charles Tilden, 294.
Paper money, 92, 93, 110.
Parade made, 120.
Paragrafts, 87.
Parker, Rev. James, 49.
Parker, Lieut. Obadiah, 294.
Parker, Obadiah, 197, 295.
Paupers and idle persons, 62, 63, 64, 71, 95, 140, 142.
Pemaquid, 11.
Pepperell, 27.
Perambulation, 105.
Petition to Congress about land tax, 135.
Plan of government, 95.
Plymouth, council of, 6, 7, town of, 6.
Poor farm purchased, 143.
Population, 81, 236, 237.
Portsmouth, 5, 7, 8, 16, 51.
Potash manufactory, 243.
Powder, purchased, 86, divided, 90.
Prayers at town meetings, 137.
Prescott, Lieut. William, 48.
Prices, extraordinary, 95-100, stipo-
lated, 97, 98, of nails, hinges, &c., 135.
Proprietary officers, 228.
Querister chosen, 102.
Railroad, 245.
Reed, Rev. A. H., 250.
Registers, family, 195-211. Report on improvements, 40.
Representation, 81.
Representative, chosen, 82, new meet- ing, doings at, 84.
Representatives, list of, 229-232.
324
INDEX.
Revolution, first appearance of, 73, in Stones on a stump, 60.
government of the state, 80. Revolutionary troubles, 74. Revolutionary war, 221-227. Rum for the continential army, 102. Russell, Jason, 295. Russell, John, 295.
Russell, IIubbard, 295.
Rye, tax paid in, 109.
Salt purchased, 78, disbusted, bills, &c., 81-86.
School, districts, 237, fund, 146, trustees of, 148,232, houses, 120, lands fenced, 102, leased to Dea. Dakiń, 111, sold, 51, 64, 65, to Dr. Barber, 123.
Schools, 71. Scotch prisoners, sold, 272. Scripture, Samuel, 197.
Scripture, Samuel, difficulties about Mr. Brown's preaching, 65, 66.
Scripture, Dr. Oliver, 302.
Scythes and axes, 243.
Searles, Rev. Jonathan, 296, call, 65, renewed, 66, answer, 67, ordination, 67, 68, call to Candia, 69, payments to, 70, 71, noon house, 72, lands, 77, 113, pew, 127, keeps school, 133, on committee to wait on Mr. Hill, 113.
Settlers and grantees, 35. Sextons, 88, 137.
Sharon, name voted, 52, 57.
Sherman, John, 15, 16.
Sinking currency, 95.
Sir equivalent to dominus 111.
Slipton, 50. Small pox, 123, 138, 139.
Smith Sarah, clothing, 140.
Smith, Stephen, Esq., 296.
Snows, depth of, 320.
Soldiers, raised, 88, 89, 91, 101, taxes of abated, 93, bounties paid to, 89, 91, 94, 95, for Rhode Island, 95, certificates of sent to Exeter, 100, allowance to, 104. Spaulding, Rev. John, 299.
Square money, 92. Squr Varnum, 77. Sr. Hill, 111. Statistics of mortality, 233-235. Stevens, John, Esq., 300.
Swallow, Liout. John, 197, 302.
Taft, James, 309.
Tarbell, Thomas, 197, 311. Tarbell boys, Indian prisoners, 312. Taxes, paid in rye, 109, J. Withce's abated, 136. Taxing the Baptists, 121.
Tax land, petition against, 135. Tax list, first, 61, 62.
Tea, pound of to Betty Locke, 134. Temple, 5, incorporated, 28.
Thanksgiving, origin of, 319.
Town house built, 145.
Town officers, list of, 229-231.
Town stock of powder purchased and divided, 86, 90.
Townsend, 5, divided by Province line, 21, petition for redress, 22, incorpo- rated, 27, 60.
Thomlinson, 20, 22.
Three years' men, 88, 91.
Uncle Sam, 209.
Village, 241-245.
Warning out, 63.
Warrant, for proprietors's meeting, 51, for last meeting, 53, for first town meeting, 58, Taxes, 61, paupers', 62, blown away, 82.
Weston, Dea. Rogor, 303.
Wheeler, Josiah, resigns, 73, character of, 74.
Wheeler, Timothy, 304.
Wheeler, Timothy, Jr., 304.
Wheeler, Aaron, 305.
Wilton, grant of, 38.
Wilson, Edward, 209.
Wilson, Samuel, anecdote of, 209.
Winnipissiogee, 14.
Winthrop, Dean, 25.
Withee, James, taxes abated, barn burnt, 136.
Withington, Elisha, schoolmaster, 71. Wood, Col. James, 306. Wolves, 46. Worcester, Francis, 46. Work house, 64, 71.
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affectionate father
Eben Hill oben
MEMOIR
2 1
OF THE
REV. EBENEZER HILL,
PASTOR OF THE
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, IN
MASON, N. H.
FROM NOVEMBER, 1790, TO MAY, 1854. 4
WITH SOME OF HIS SERMONS,
AND HIS DISCOURSE ON THE
HISTORY OF THE TOWN.
BY Bonnlow JOHN B. HILL.
BOSTON : LUCIUS A. ELLIOT & CO. D. BUGBEE & CO., BANGOR. 1858. .0
PRINTED BY SAMUEL S. SMITH, BANGOR, ME.
PREFACE.
-
To write the biography of a parent, is a delicate task. It has not been undertaken in the present instance, without a full appreciation of the difficulties in its accomplishment. Neither the feelings of the writer, nor the proprieties of the occasion, would permit any other tone than that of eulogy. My endeavor has been in this sketch, to exhibit fairly, the prominent traits of the character and incidents of the life of my father, especially in their effects upon the church and peo- ple of his charge ; and in doing so, I am not conscious that I have stepped beyond the line of propriety, either in the exhibition of commendable traits, or in the concealment or suppression of faults or imperfections. For the main body of this sketch, I am indebted to my brother, the Rev. T. Hill, of Saint Louis, Mo.
The discourse upon leaving the Old Meeting House, is printed from a manuscript transcribed from the original, soon after it was delivered. The other discourses, are reprints of the first edition, with no change, but the correction of manifest errors. The portrait accompanying this volume, is engraved from a painting made at the age of about seventy years. The engraved page of a sermon, is a fac simile of the ser- mon preached at the dedication of the meeting house, in 1795.
BANGOR, May 1, 1858.
J. B. HILL.
MEMOIR.
" Every man's life is of importance to himself, to his family, to his friends, to his country, and in the sight of God. They are by no means the best men, who have made most noise in the world; neither are those actions most deserving of praise, which have obtained the greatest show of fame. Scenes of violence and blood, the workings of ambition, pride and revenge, compose the annals of men. But piety and purity, temperance and humility, which are little noted and soon forgotten of the world, are held in everlasting remem- brance before God." Hunter's Sacred Biography, vol. 1, p. 24.
No two men have ever existed, whose lives were, in all respects, exact counterparts of each other. Every human being, is thoroughly individualized by his own will, and has a history that is peculiar to himself, which can never be so blended with that of another, as not to possess points of interest, in contrast, to attentive observers. No two persons can be found, whose physical endowments are not such as to render them distinguishable by their intimate friends. So also, a marked distinction will be found in the mental powers, the modes of thought, and manner of action of individuals most closely resembling each other. Each, in all these respects, will have traits in a good degree original and pecu- liar to himself. Hence, the faithful portraiture of the char- acter of any individual will afford instruction to others. They will recognize in it, situations similar to their own, and by observing how difficulties have been overcome, and trials borne, or how temptations have led to ruin, they may be encouraged to struggle for victory, and shun the path which led another to destruction.
2
6
MEMOIR OF THE
If it be true, that every man is so individualized as to ren- der his real life instructive to others, it is peculiarly so, with the life of a christian; for with him a new element of power is introduced, and grace controls and silently renovates the man, evolving its own light from the darkness of nature, and so moulding the original clements, that upon all is enstamped the glorious image of Jesus, and the man is formed anew, and fitted for heaven.
Could the real life of any christian be written, it would form a most interesting volume, and it would matter little, what position in life the subject of it might have occupied. The life of Moses is rich and varied, but the simple sketch of Lazarus, sitting at the rich man's gate,-dying alone, and borne by angels to Abraham's bosom, has a touching beauty, equalling in interest anything found in that of the law-giver.
If these views are correct, the life of any carnest, success- ful preacher of the gospel, must have an intrinsic interest in whatever station his lot has been cast. He may not have been as cloquent as Whitfield, as deep a theologian as Ed- wards, nor have possessed the finished grandeur of Robert Hall; but he has fought a good fight himself, has pointed many sinners to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world; and trained many souls for immortality, and fitted them for heaven. The memory of such a man is enshrined in the best affections of many who have felt always his influence, and a view of his life will furnish them, and others also, with new motives for leading a life of faith.
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